as in preparatory
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows
we need to do some preliminary research in order to properly focus the experiment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in prelude
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event
a meeting to discuss seating arrangements that was merely a preliminary to the formal negotiating sessions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preliminary
Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 June 2026
Currently at a very preliminary stage, the timeline to build the projects wasn’t immediately known.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
Personal Finance Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026
The hockey playoffs weren’t affected by the storm and are expected to start on March 2 with Division II preliminaries.
—Jacob Rousseau, The Providence Journal, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preliminary
Adjective
Arlington police said their preliminary investigation found that Clark and a man were involved in a domestic dispute at a nearby motel before the fatal crash.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 June 2026
Currently at a very preliminary stage, the timeline to build the projects wasn’t immediately known.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
Noun
Tickets to the mixed archery preliminary set me back $110 each, then $85 each for the mixed equestrian preliminary.
—Personal Finance Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026
The hockey playoffs weren’t affected by the storm and are expected to start on March 2 with Division II preliminaries.
—Jacob Rousseau, The Providence Journal, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preliminary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preliminary
Adjective
-
Separate preparatory meetings with each side are set to take place in Doha this week, ahead of the official signing in Switzerland and the start of the technical talks, the diplomat said.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
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This includes increasing college preparatory course availability at high schools, making financial aid systems easier to navigate, and recruiting and retaining Asian American and Pacific Islander faculty members.—
Tarini Mehta,
Sacbee.com,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
The elegant, minimalistic, black-wooden cabinet box containing 12 cigars is but a prelude to this, the mildest cigar sporting the distinctive Davidoff black band.—
Richard Carleton Hacker,
Robb Report,
19 June 2026
-
This was the second of five group-stage games to be held here, a collective prelude to the July 1 main event (Round of 32).—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
17 June 2026
Adjective
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For someone testing the category, the cheapest move is usually a promotional bundle or a single introductory drip.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
-
Less than $60 will get you a perfectly good introductory toaster oven, while spending up to $100 will add many of the bonus features that could be important to you.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preliminary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preliminary. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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